Roman Poems!

[Spedius]

Ave!

Here's another rather more sombre poem.

"Roman Wall Blues

Over the heather the wet wind blows,
I've lice in my tunic and a cold in my nose.

The rain comes pattering out of the sky,
I'm a Wall soldier, I don't know why.

The mist creeps over the hard grey stone,
My girl's in Tungria; I sleep alone.

Aulus goes hanging around her place,
I don't like his manners, I don't like his face.

Piso's a Christian, he worships a fish;
There'd be no kissing if he had his wish.

She gave me a ring but I diced it away;
I want my girl and I want my pay.

When I'm a veteran with only one eye
I shall do nothing but look at the sky.

W. H. Auden"

Has you enthusiasm for this thread died, or are you just having a rest?

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[Primitivus]

I'm definitely still interested in the thread. Good stuff here. I just had to make a whirlwind trip this weekend to New Hampshire. Just got home and it will be a couple days before I have a chance to do any more research myself. More later!

[Viventius]

The Roman Wall Blues poem was discussed on RAT in a thread back in February, and has even been set to music:

http://www.romanarmy.nl/rat/viewtopic.p ... de2b7520e1

[Spedius]

I'm definitely still interested in the thread. Good stuff here. I just had to make a whirlwind trip this weekend to New Hampshire. Just got home and it will be a couple days before I have a chance to do any more research myself. More later!

Ave Robert,

Welcome back, I will look forward to reading your discoveries.

When you get a minute or two have a look at the topic "Any Other Poems" which was created, as the title implies, for the rest. This thread can be found over in the "Off-topic" section of the Forum.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[Spedius]

The Roman Wall Blues poem was discussed on RAT in a thread back in February, and has even been set to music:

Ave Sandra/Viventius,

Hello again.

Thank you for pointing that out for us. Have you heard it yet?

Here's another version, with the same title.

"Roman Wall Blues

I've got the Roman Wall Blues,
right down to my shoes.
My skirt is small,
and I am tall.
I've got the Roman Wall Blues.

I'm standing here with nothing to do,
defending this wall from someone like you.
I'm standing here all day long,
sometimes I sing this song.

My heart is back at home,
in that wonderful land called Rome.
While I'm here on this wall,
and sleep in a deep dark hall.

Someday I'll go back,
to my friend called Mac.
Marry my girl,
and give her a pearl.

I've got the Roman Wall Blues,
right down to my shoes.
My skirt is small,
and I am tall.
I've got the Roman Wall Blues.

Wayne Michael Owens"

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[philbo]

Boadicea Parody by Phil Alexander

It's so satisfying to come across a parody of mine out of the blue...

Just thought I'd say Hi and a big :-D D that it caused some amusement.

TTFN

Phil

[Spedius]

Boadicea Parody by Phil Alexander

It's so satisfying to come across a parody of mine out of the blue...
Just thought I'd say Hi and a big :-D D that it caused some amusement.
TTFN
Phil

Ave Phil,

May I be the first to welcome you to this Forum.
I do hope you don't mind me borrowing your parody :?:
Have you written any others that you would care to share with us :?:
How did you find this website :?:

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[philbo]

May I be the first to welcome you to this Forum.

Ave, Spedius et al

I do hope you don't mind me borrowing your parody :?:

Not at all: they are written for public consumption, after all. I can get a bit miffed if people copy my parodies without attribution (but it's hard to spot those, so I don't get too worked up about it)

Have you written any others that you would care to share with us :?:

That are appropriate for this forum, probably not: I'm up to six hundred and something, but only one Roman-ish; there is one in Latin (well, sort of Latin, anyway).

How did you find this website :?:

Google. How else?

[Spedius]

Ave Phil,

Thank for the links, 600+ so far, that is simply awesome 8)

Here's another of your Roman theme parodies

"Et Tu Brute
No Milk Today Based on the performance by Herman's Hermits
Et Tu Brute Parody by Phil Alexander

Et tu Brute? Is all I have to say
So come and have a stab - make a Caesar kebab
Et tu Brute, it's time for you to slay
But Brutus, understand, you honourable man

Yon Cassius was never a Caesar fan
A lean and hungry look, a lean and hungry man
I should have known that I was right at that
When I wanted around only men who are fat

Et tu Brute? I thought I could trust you
But now I'm made to pay, I should have stayed away

Soon all that's left'll be a dead Caesar's body
A body full of holes a-lying on the ground
But I know that I'm JC, and not Noddy
JC's always go down

Et tu Brute? You didn't let it show
That Casca was a pain- made holes in my toupée
Ouch! Did I hear a thud and then a thwack
The sound of being stabbed, lit'rally in the back

There's too many wounds, now I can't ignore 'em
Not a funny thing, on my way to the Forum
They'd pat me on the back - been like that all my life
Just looking for the place they're gonna stick the knife

Et tu Brute? Look, come on stab away
Your ears should start to burn: they're saying it's your turn

Soon all that's left'll be a dead Caesar's body
Bloody conspirators a-standing all around
It all goes to show that Caesar ain't God, he
Turns red then falls down

Et tu Brute? My life it ebbs away
And you before me stand, your dagger in your hand
Et tu Brute? You're joining in the fight
It wasn't always so - you're killing me, you know

I could decry last words before I die:
Infamy, infamy! They've got in in fo' me
How could I know what a Carry On there'll be
Brutus, you don't reply - it's Caesar's time to die

Et tu Brute? The knife is in your hand
The end of this soirée, you stab and shout "Touché"

And all that's left is a dead Caesar's body
A-lying in a pool of blood on the floor
And all that's left is a dead Caesar's body
More holes than a sieve and leaking out gore
And all that's left is a dead Caesar's body
And a Mark Anthony speaking outside the door"

I found this parody here http://www.amiright.com/parody/60s/herm ... ts95.shtml

Are you continually writing new parodies, Phil :?:

Perhaps you might like to post some over in "Any Other Poems (AOP)" in the Off-Topic section of the Forum :?:

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[Primitivus]

Have you written any others that you would care to share with us?

That are appropriate for this forum, probably not: I'm up to six hundred and something, but only one Roman-ish; there is one in Latin (well, sort of Latin, anyway).

Thanks for sharing your poetry with us. And, welcome aboard from a relative newcomer. This is a great community of scholars (well, some of non-scholars are here also, to leaven the loaf).

[philbo]

Here another of your Roman theme parodies

"Et Tu Brute

D'Oh! I forgot about that one... I remember being fairly pleased with it at the time... Well spotted

Are you continually writing new parodies, Phil :?:

Perhaps you might like to post some over in "Any Other Poems (AOP)" in the Off-Topic section of the Forum :?:

I average about ten per month, or thereabouts (surprisingly enough, there are people who write more than this...); I record the occasional one, too: there are a few recordings here. You need to register to download, but it is free.

If I write something that might be of interest here, I'll post over there if you like.

Thanks for sharing your poetry with us. And, welcome aboard from a relative newcomer. This is a great community of scholars (well, some of non-scholars are here also, to leaven the loaf).

It's a pleasure I would call myself a scholar... but not in this field. I have done the occasional dozen historical or grammatical parodies, though

[Spedius]

Ave Phil,

If you, or your friends, would like to post parodies here, you will find a ready and appreciative audience.

Although our main collective interests revolve around the historical, some of us have broadened the scope of subjects that we now discuss.

Discovering you and your parodies was a revelation to me. I had known of skits or take-offs of famous or popular music for some time but hadn't actually read any.

Please do look around and, when you feel comfortable, post as little or as much as you wish.

Once again Phil, you are most welcome here.

Vale

M. Spedius Corbulo

[Primitivus]

I would call myself a scholar... but not in this field.

Poetry, literature? We've got a number of genuine Roman military scholars here. My own scholarly pursuits are in early Church history, where I believe I possess some credentials. However, despite the modest overlap, and my undergrad degree in History, with an emphasis on the Roman era, I learn many new things every time I log on to RAT. Once again, welcome. Visit whenever you have time.

[Primitivus]

[size=150:3oqg9lu5]Naked River Spy 54 BC[/size]
By Eric Ratcliffe

O naked river spy,
iron in your singing voice,
watching a Dover bird hovering,
rising from your skins,
acting cocoon to the shy man
stroking his brown idol,
- you have sent seven hundred black horses
plunging through the wide wheat,
punishing hooves like thunderclouds
- surely the flesh of your wonder sisters
will walk in the fort of Casivellaunus!

O naked river spy,
daughter of the high sun,
we have driven the great stakes
into our white waters,
and we sit with our magic cups,
kneeling to the dark altar in the reeds.
We will take the hearts of a hundred Romans;
you have given us honey
and the yellow arms of our lamps
will touch gold to your hair
- surely you will sleep with men after the wine!

O naked river spy,
walking with the feet of light monkeys,
with the eyes of gods on our arrows,
as they come we will kill them
like jumping deer after the rain,
sinking the helmets of the metal strangers.
Go, sleep on the moon-floor of our moor-hut
(and hasten to clean your legs on the rushes)
- your round sly face will see a tall man
- he will be as warm as a fox!

[Primitivus]

[size=150:2t2jb10x]Limits[/size]
Jorge Luis Borges

Of all the streets that blur in to the sunset,
There must be one (which, I am not sure)
That I by now have walked for the last time
Without guessing it, the pawn of that Someone

Who fixes in advance omnipotent laws,
Sets up a secret and unwavering scale
for all the shadows, dreams, and forms
Woven into the texture of this life.

If there is a limit to all things and a measure
And a last time and nothing more and forgetfulness,
Who will tell us to whom in this house
We without knowing it have said farewell?

Through the dawning window night withdraws
And among the stacked books which throw
Irregular shadows on the dim table,
There must be one which I will never read.

There is in the South more than one worn gate,
With its cement urns and planted cactus,
Which is already forbidden to my entry,
Inaccessible, as in a lithograph.

There is a door you have closed forever
And some mirror is expecting you in vain;
To you the crossroads seem wide open,
Yet watching you, four-faced, is a Janus.

There is among all your memories one
Which has now been lost beyond recall.
You will not be seen going down to that fountain
Neither by white sun nor by yellow moon.

You will never recapture what the Persian
Said in his language woven with birds and roses,
When, in the sunset, before the light disperses,
You wish to give words to unforgettable things.

And the steadily flowing Rhone and the lake,
All that vast yesterday over which today I bend?
They will be as lost as Carthage,
Scourged by the Romans with fire and salt.

At dawn I seem to hear the turbulent
Murmur of crowds milling and fading away;
They are all I have been loved by, forgotten by;
Space, time, and Borges now are leaving me.